Guest Blogging This Week
July 13 – Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy: Lisa Rayns Thank you, Lisa.
July 13 – Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy: Lisa Rayns Thank you, Lisa.
A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW * Reviewed by: Hitherandthee
Elora Laiken is an enigma. After falling through a previously unknown portal from another dimension, torn and bloodied and a complete mess, few were sure she would survive. But survive she does, and wakes to find herself in a parallel world eerily similar to her own, but with a treasure she never could have imagined. She arrives as a prisoner, an unknown and greatly misunderstood creature, cared for by the notorious Bad Company, B Team of the Order of the Black Swans. Ram, Storm, Kay, and Sol are back at base, recovering from the loss of a team member, when Elora arrives and proves herself an invaluable team member. Several weeks pass, but when an outbreak of vampires in New York City has B Team scrambling to uncover the reason and method to stop them, Elora is right there with them. Little do they know a saboteur is waiting to destroy everything the team, as well as Elora and Ram, have built. When the saboteur strikes, can Elora and Ram solve the mysteries, save the team, and learn to recognize the love in their hearts while not tearing the team apart? Dig in and find out.
My Familiar Stranger is a very complex book that is beautiful and heartwarming. There are numerous laugh out loud moments, as well as several nail biting edge of your seat moments. The adventure quotient is high, but not too much so. The romance in the novel is built in seamlessly, exquisitely enhancing the story. I absolutely loved this novel, and cannot wait for the next one!
Jun 11, 2012 * B007V8RAKW
I will try to locate everyone from the old site and pull them over, but, just in case, please grab the link. Mucho thanks.
Review from Jenna Lynne at Between the Bind Blog POSTED 6/26/12
She gave me 4 1/2 stars on Amazon, but, I’m still proud enough of this review to post it because she took SO much time on the analysis and went so deep into her personal reactions. As an author, you can’t help but be moved when someone is emotional engaged by the characters of an otherworld that originated in the strangeness of imaginescape. Thanks Jenna. Not just for this review, but for promoting the genre of Paranormal Romance. – Victoria
This book was a RIDE! I simply cannot say enough great things about Victoria Danann and the genius that is My Familiar Stranger. Danann’s writing style is uniquely honest and captivates her audience with both plot and characters in a well-developed and thoughtful world (or “worlds” as it seems).
The Love Nest:
Elora Liaken is the perfect meshing of kick-butt-ness and vulnerability. Literally dropping into an alternative dimension after watching her family be assassinated, Elora is saved by Storm, the de facto leader of the elite B-Team in the paranormal military unit, “Black Swan.” All Elora remembers of Storm is his delicious smell and comforting words while drifting in and out of consciousness. Well, that and another voice saying, “We should kill it.”
After healing, Elora distinguishes the latter from B-Team’s resident womanizer, Ram, who immediately recognizes Elora as his elven mate. Showing more brains than brawn, he doesn’t try to force his culture on Elora, knowing that humans rarely mate for life. Ram is crude at best while competing for Elora’s affection – but he is unaware that the competition is with not just one other man, but instead, two! The last in this triad being the ancient, overtly sexy, and repentant vampire, Istvan Baka.
These relationships seem to be straight forward at first, but progress interestingly enough and actually? One of my initial complaints is now my most favorite piece of Danann’s puzzle. I really did want Elora to choose each one of the men depending on the page I was on, to the point of being extremely frustrated that said gentleman was taking time away from my current fav, but, in what I’ve come to know as classic Danann style, this was exactly the point. As a reader, you are physically but moreover, emotionally pulled in several directions – just like Elora.
There is not one clear stand out mate until a choice is made and you’re like WHAT?! HIM?! Wait…but what about…?! These relationships develop organically, taking ample time before jumping into any sexual relationship. I enjoyed the flirting so much! Most writers do not give enough attention to the simple act of flirting. *sigh*
**SPOILER** The major qualm I had with this trio of suitors was that Baka wasn’t really ever in the running for me. Even though he was sexy as all get out, he was never a true contender for Elora’s heart. So this “trio” is really just a “duo” with a super sexy friend involved. **END SPOILER**
Our Heroine: The premise of a woman not needing protection from her man also brightened the read. I loved how competent Elora was in all aspects without being an unobtainable heroine or perceived as perfect – well from anyone but her men!
The Awesome: Danann’s world building is quite astounding. She has a knack for detail and can write such vivid imagery that I could recount to you with reasonable accuracy what rooms and buildings looked and felt like. I could not however tell you just what all three of our male characters looked like…well except some inappropriate details. 😉
This book had a slow first few chapters but once I understood Danann’s style and relaxed into her flow I enjoyed every page turn. I will be waiting ever-so-patiently (HA!) for the next installment, The Witch’s Dream to be released in Fall 2012.
Great for writers and readers, too.
Just discovered Writing with Hallie Chandler. Great for writers and readers, too.
In response to a comment from a reader received this morning, I decided to write a quick update on Book Two: The Witch’s Dream.
My target for release is mid October, but, if I enter into a contract to publish in print form as well as electronic, there might be a slight delay. I will post developments on this blog.
To Jen – I hope you always finish reading my books tapping foot impatiently for the next one. Thank you for the feedback. It keeps me typing.
Update to my announcement a couple of weeks ago that we are going with Amazon.com exclusively. For those of you who want to read My Familiar Stranger on devices other than Kindle… here’s the solution.